Without the revenues due them, they must draw on reserves and, when those run out, they will borrow with interest to pay bills -- with no assurance that the state will reimburse them. This is not an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

In tight times for government, it makes sense to raise fees. But without action by the Legislature, community colleges are stuck charging students the same as before, $11 per semester unit, even though the state plans to increase those fees effective this month. So after the state budget is passed, colleges will have to send out supplemental bills asking students to please pay the difference.

The Legislature could have saved colleges a lot of fiscal gymnastics had it settled the budget by now. Instead, Sacramento is mulling a $7 increase, to $18 per semester unit. It still can erase more red ink by imposing a bigger tuition increase.

At the very least, community college fees should rise to $25 per unit -- still an educational bargain and still the lowest in the nation, but high enough so needy students could qualify for federal tuition aid.

Aside from fees, community colleges should expect to share in the sacrifices needed to make the state budget balance.

A drop of 1.5 percent is reasonable, which is in line with what this year's budget ended up being after $160 million in mid-year cuts.

That's pretty good amid a $38 billion state deficit. California's community colleges reduced spring course offerings by nearly 9 percent and summer courses by 29 percent. Administrators, full-time and part-time faculty have been given pink slips.

The budget is not pretty. The delay is downright ugly and unnecessary.